The United States has announced it will no longer participate in the Joint Continental Defense Board with Canada, a bilateral security forum maintained since World War II. Washington cited Ottawa's consistent failure to meet its defense commitments as the primary driver behind the decision.

The developments were reported by Al Jazeera on Monday (May 18).

US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby announced via social media that the Pentagon is suspending its participation in the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD). Colby stated the measure was taken to re-evaluate the efficacy and strategic utility of the long-standing forum.

Established during World War II, the PJBD has served for decades as a cornerstone platform for North American regional security cooperation. However, relations between the two neighbors have grown increasingly strained since Donald Trump returned to power for a second term as US President in 2025.

"A stronger Canada that prioritizes hard military capabilities over rhetoric benefits everyone," Colby wrote in a post on X. "Unfortunately, Canada has failed to demonstrate credible progress toward fulfilling its defense promises."

He added, "We can no longer ignore the gap between rhetoric and reality. Genuine allies must back their words by sharing the burden of collective defense and security."

The suspension marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration's persistent criticism of Western allies, whom Washington accuses of over-relying on US military might. Allied nations have largely pushed back against these assertions, countering that they are actively scaling up defense expenditures and assuming larger roles in regional security.

Tensions Over NATO Commitments
The diplomatic rift follows commitments made at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, where nearly all member states pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP—though Spain requested an exemption from the target.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canada was among the nations that signed on to the increased spending targets.

The Canadian government detailed that out of its projected 5% defense allocation, 3.5% would be channeled directly into strengthening core military capabilities.

The remaining funds were earmarked for port infrastructure development, emergency preparedness, and other security-related sectors.

Since taking office as Prime Minister in March 2025, Carney has been a vocal advocate for reducing Canada's military and economic dependence on the United States.

In a speech delivered earlier this year, he envisioned a global order where middle powers unite to bypass the intense rivalries of modern superpowers—a remarks widely interpreted as a veiled reference to the US, Russia, and China.